Planogiiaph co



T. THORNYCROFT.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION HLED AUG-24, 1915. ,308,562. Patented July 1, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

T. THORNYCROFT.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

, APPLICATION FILED A UG.24. 1916. 1,308,562.

Patented July 1, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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IIIII'IIIIIIIIIIIVII Aw a THB COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c,

KJNHED sTATEs PATENT curios.

TOM rnoaivYcaor'r, or WESTMINSTER, nivetaivnnssienoa To onN I. THonNY- cnorr a 00., LIMITED, or WESTMINSTER, ENGLAND.

INTEImAL-coMBusr oi'v miemn To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TOM TI-IORNYCROFT, a subject oi the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Westminster, England, have invented Improvements in or Relating to Internal-Combustion Engines, otwhich the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to internalcombustion engines, more particularly of the two stroke cycle type, supplied with oil as fuel, and it has for its objectto effect certain improvements directed to the securing of more effective engine control. For this purpose it includes the employment of air under pressure for periodic admission, at will, to the engine cylinder in order not so much to expel products of combustion asto promote before or during the stroke preceding the working stroke circulation of the gases contained in the combustion chamber and thus to insure the uses in the neighborhood of the ignition p ug being rendered sufiiciently active .to give rapidity of ignition and enable a small super-compression to be obtained so that the power of the enginecan be controlled. The said air (hereinafter called the controlling air) may be conducted to the bulbs, Vaporizers or cylinder heads, and is selectively supplied at will to the chest of an air distributing valve and thence periodically admitted to the engine either as high pressure air for starting, or aslower pressure air for power control at desired points of the engine cycle.

The scavenging properly so called which is e'lteeted regularly is or may be effected by air compressed in the crank case beneath the engine piston and admitted by the air port in the usual and. well known manner of two cycle internal combustion engines.

The invention is more especially associated-with engines aclaptedtobe started with air derived from a high pressuresource of supply under the control a of a rotary or other distributing valve or valves andwhile the admlssionof air to the cylinder for the purposes of the invention may beefieoted with the aid. of a separate and similar rotary or other suitable valve arrangement, a feature of theimprovements consists in the provision of a compact and self contained valve mechanism such that by manipulation of a single handle .the air for all purposes required can be controlled. Such a valve meal-racism adapted connected to driven rotary distributing valve. hand wheel has five principal working pothe bottles for. starting purposes. descr bed positlon ISBfiQGtlVQ when the engine 1s running in either direct on.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 1, 1919.

Application filed August 24, 1916. Serial No. 116,750.

the engine through a suitable check valve arrangement so that it is not affected by high oylmder pressures and can remain noperatlve when its use is not des1red.

The air for, engine control purposesaccording tothe invention may be derived from the same source as for startlng but slnce the 1s or may not be necessary and. it

is common to employ multistage air compressors, it is convenient in such circumstances. to arrange for the said valve mechanism to cut out the higher pressure portion of the compressor and employ the lower pressure portion to supply the scavenging or like air, thereby lessening the load upon the engine. r a 3 Q But inorder that; the invention may i be morereadily understood it will be further described with referenceto a multioylinder reversiblemarine engine with which is combined a two sta 'e air com )rcssor havin a y b a: cut out valve betweenuthe high pressure [stage andthe receiver of the low pressure stage, it being understood that the compressor when ,in full operationis adapted to charge reservoirs or so-called bottles for the storage of air for starting purposes.

Accordlng to thls example, high and low pressure air outlet valves and the com pressor control valve are selectively opened by cam mechanism under the control of a hand-wheel capable of one complete revolu tion or part ofa revolution only, suitable gearing at the same time adjusting the po sition of apivoted seating for a constantly Such a sitions which may be termed. starting ahead, starting astern, running ahead with controlling air, running astern with controlling air and. compressing air into .Thelast Midway between the above mentioned positions are four neutral positions in any one of which the hand wheel may be left without influencing the engine in any way. Any

suitable indexing means may be employed to retain the hand wheel in correct position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a diagrammatic view of such an arrangement. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of thecontrolhng mechanism. of this arrangea to.

is the piping connecting the low the line A-B of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a face view of a portion of Fig. 2 removed.

In Fig. 1, a represent four engine cylinders' each having ahead I) fitted with a nonreturn valve 0. Each of these valves 0 is connected by piping e to an'air di'stributer d. 'f is thelow pressure air receiver of a two stage compressor; 9 a relief valve therefor; h is the high pressure air receiver; 2' a sleeve tributer-shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the hand wheel 0 is secured to a shaft 10 inclined to the axis of the rotary distributing valve shaft 1" and geared to the adjustable'seating s for the valve t through bevel pinions The seating s is: provided with four equidistantly spaced ports (two ofwhich are shown at '0) communicating respectively with four annular spaces to disposed axially along a cylindrical body extension m-of the valve seating s and in constant register with ports y connected by the, piping e and check valves 0 of Fig. 1 to the cylinder'he'ads b.

V The distributing valve t which is of conical'formation is provided with a single port 2 and with a rectangular projecting part 1 adapted to engage a slot 2 at one end of the shaft 1 for driving it continuously from the engine, which shaft extends into the extension w of the valve seating. The bearings for the hand Wheel shaft p are provided 1n a body 3, forming part ofthe distributing valve air chest 4, and in a cover 5 for such body 3. The body 3 carries a pair of springloaded mushroom valves 6 and 7, one of 'which, namely 6, controls a passage 8 between the distributing valve air chest et and the stationary air bottle arrangement (Fig.1) and the other of which, namely 7 controls a passage 9 between the air chest 4 and the recelver f of the low pressure stage 0f the compressor (Fig. 1). These air i'n-.

let valves 6 and 7 may, as shown, be disposed at opposite sides of the hand wheel shaft 12 in a plane that contains the axis of the latter but out of alinement with each other so that a pair of axially displaced edge cams 10 and 11 upon the; said hand wheel shaftcan cooperate with the valve spindles 12 and 13. The contours and angular relationship of these cams will be readily ascertained from Fig. 3. By this means each valve 6 and 7 can be held open at will inboth the ahead or the astern operation. A third edge cam 1 l on the hand wheel spindle ,1), may produce angular movement of an arm 15 connected to time that either the air inlet valve (3 or 7 is opened. The hand wheel 0 may be held by means of a trigger arrangementcomprising a catch 19 cooperating with a notched disk 20 and moved into and out of engagement therewith by a handle 21 upon the said hand wheel, the said handle being actuated in one direction by a spring 22 and by hand pressure in opposition thereto. 23 is a stop upon the cover 5 with which a stop '24 upon the hand wheel 0 is adapted to engage with rotation in opposite directions. The cover 5 is provided with a dial 25 the wording upon which although not identical with the phraseolo'gy employed at the commencement hereof will sufficiently indicate the results that obtain with the positions marked. The

notches numbered 26 indicate the remaining pair of neutral positions referred to in which the hand wheel 0 may be left without influencing the engine in any way. In all the figures the parts are in position corresponding to bottle charging.

The operations of starting, stopping, putting into operation the controlling air, or compressing air into bottles ready for restarting in either direction, are made as follows:

To start a7z-ea- Z.T.he hand wheel 0 is rotated to the ahead starting position, and the high pressure air derived from the bottles Z: is allowed to flow to the cylinder a which happens to be in the proper position in the cycle of operations, due to registration of the port :1; connected to that cylinder with the port 2 of the distributing valve 2, after which the remaining cylinders receive air in proper rotation and exhaust as ordinarily.

When the engine has thus been started by air, the fuel is supplied separately and the engine run explosively. If full power is at once required, the hand wheel 0 is then rotated to the ahead scavenging position, that 'is to say, to the position marked extra air ahead in Fig. 1, and low pressure air admitted through the valve 7 is injected at a suitable time in the cycle to effectually remove the exhaust gases. This insures that the oil is readily and promptly ignited upon injection, As an alternative, if full power is not required, the hand wheel 0 can be at once turned to one of the two neutral positions, marked Running either way and numbered 26 respectively.

Starting in the astern direction is accomplished in exactly the same way, by revolving the wheel to the astern position after stopping the engine by cutting out the fuel supply, or in other suitable Ways. After starting the engine in either direction the air pressure in the bottles is can be restored by moving-the hand Wheel 0 to the pumping position marked air compressor inFig. 4 in which position air is compressed and pumped into the starting bottles. Atthis latter time the valve z'betvveen the high and low pressure stages it and j f of the compressor is simultaneously opened by the action of the cam let against the actionof the spring j and both the airinlet valves 6 and 7 are maintained closed the action of their springs 27. a j I As will be seen from Fig. 2 the high pressure air supply tends to keep the valve 6 closed While the low pressure air supply tends to open the valve 7. Thepressure of each spring 27 .isslightly in excess of the lOW pressure air supply so that air entering the air chest 4: Will be unable at any time to open the valve 6 and escape past it; What I claim is i 1. For starting and controllingfa tWo stroke internal combustion engine, sources of air under different pressures, a valve chest, manually controlled means adapted to admit air at Will from either of said sources to said valve chest, andmeans drivenby the engine adapted to periodically admit air from said valve chest to the engine cylinder. 2. For starting Rand controlling a two stroke internal combustion engine, sources of air under different pressures, a valve chest, manually controlled means adapted to admit air at either of said pressures atwill to said valve chest, and meansfdriven by the engine adapted to periodically admit said air from said valve chest to the engine cylinder at a period in the cyclepreceding the Working stroke. 3. In an internal combustionengine, engine-driven means for compressing air to two diflerent pressures, a valve chest, n1anually controlled means adapted to admit such air to said valve chest, and means driven by the engine for the admission of air from said valve chest to the engine cylinder at a higher pressure for starting purposes and at a lower pressure after the engine is Working explosively.

4:.111 an internal combustion engine, a multi-stage compressor, a valve adapted to cut the higher pressure stage out of use, means for the periodic admission of air derived from the higher pressure stage section of the compressor to the engine cylinder for starting purposes, means for the periodic admission of air from the lower pressure stage section of the compressor to the engine after the same is Working explosively and means adapted to close the valve between the compression stages during both high and low pressure air admission, as aforesaid.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the

combination with an engine cylinder arrangement of an adjustable ported valve seat and seat extension through which air can pass to the cylinder arrangement, sources of air at two different pressures, an air distributing valve Working on said seatingand controlling the ports therein, hand controlled means for adjusting the position of trolled bythe hand operating meansrefe "red to, adapted at one time to open the loW pressure air valvezalone and at another time to open the high pressure as valve alone.

7. In an internal combustion engine, a constantly driven rotary air distributing valve,"arotatably adjustable valve seating therefor, hand operating means i for rotating thesaid valve/seating, a high pressure air reservoir, a multistage compressor adapted to charge said reservoir, a valve adapted to cut the higher pressureflstage out of use, a high pressure airinlet valve, a lowpressure air inlet valve, such valvesbeing associated with the rotary distributingvalve, and cam mechanism controlled. by the hand operating means referred. to, adapted at one time to open the low pressure air valve and. close the oomprcssorcut outvalve, at another time to open the highpressure air valve andiclose the SfllCl cut out valve andat yet another time to permit of opening of the compressor c11t outyalve alone. a a g 8.x Inan internalcombustion englne, a rotary i111Cllstl'lblltlllgVHlVG, a low pressure air inlet valve tending to open automatically under suchair pressure, a higlr pressure air inlet valve tending to remain closed under such air pressure, both the said valves being adapted to conduct air to the distributing valve, spring means loading both valves in excess of the low pressure air supply and cam mechanism adapted to alternatively open the said valves in opposition to the spring load.

9. In an internal combustion engine, a retary air distributing valve, a high pressure source of air, a lovv pressure source of air, valves separately controlling admission of such air to the distributing valve, a spring preponderating over the low pressure air source opposing opening or the corresponding valve to admit air to the distrilniting valve and a similar spring opposing opening of the high pressure air admission valve due to air admitted to the distributing valve by the low pressure air valve.

' 10. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a rotary air distributing valve embodying a rotatably adjustable seating, of a shaft and gearing for adjusting su'ch seating, a hand Wheel on said shaft, a high pressure air inlet valve at one side of the shaft, a low pressure air inlet valve at the opposite side of such shaft, the said valves being out of alinement, and a pair of cams axially displaced along the said shaft, adapted to alternatively open the air inlet valves.

11. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a plurality of engine cylinders, of an adjustable valve seat and seat extension having ports and passages therein for connection With the respective cylinders, a rotary air distributing valve constantly working on said seating to control the ports therein, means for rotatably adjusting the position of said seating relatively to said valve, an air chest inclosing said valve and seating and means for admitting air under pressure to said air chest.

12, In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a multiple-cylinder engine arrangement of a rotatably adjustable valve seat, having ports that respectively communicate with the cylinders, hand operated means for rotating said valve seat, an air distributing valve that is continuously rotatable and is furnished with a port that, as the valve rotates,is successively brought into juxtaposition with each port of the valve seat, sources of air at two different pressures, hand controlled means for alternatively admitting air from such sources to said rotary distributing valve, and a non-return valve arrangement between the distributing valve and the cylinder arrangement.

13. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a multi-stage compressor and an engine cylinder arrangement, of a rotary air distributing valve, a reservoir adapted to be charged from the high pressure stage of the compressor, means adapted to alternatively admit air from the reservoir and low pressure stage of the compressor to the distributing valve, means adapted to out the high pressure stage of the compressor out of action While air is being admitted to the rotary valve as aforesaid and a non-return valve arrangement between the distributing valve and the cylinder arrangement.

14. In an internal combustion engine for the purpose of alternatively admitting air from the low pressure stage of a compressor and a reservoir charged from the high pres sure stage, With a cutting out of the said high pressure stage except when the reservoir is to be charged, the combination with an air chest of a rotatably adjustable ported valve seating, a ported casing therefor, a plurality of engine cylinders, connections between said cylinders and the ports in said casing, non-return valves in such connections, a rotary ported valve associated with the valve seating and driven continuously by the engine, a shaft inclined to the axis of the rotary valve, gearing between such shaft and valve seating, high and low pressure, air inlet valves, controlling passages communicating With the air chest referred to, a multistage compressor, a valve adapted to cut the higher pressure stage out of use, a member adapted to bermoved to close the compressor cut-out valve, cams upon the in clined shaft cooperating with such member and With the high and 10W pressure air inlet valves, a hand Wheel upon the shaft, and indexing means adapted to hold the shaft in positions Where the high and low pressure air inlet valves are alternatively opened to start and scavenge the engine respectively in both forward and reverse driving, holding the compressor cut-out valve closed, and also to hold the shaft in a position where the member referred to is permitted by its cam to open the cut-out valve and permit the reservoir to be charged.

7 Signed at lVinchester, in England, this 25th day of June, 1916.

TOM THORNYCROFT. Witnesses ALFRED H. GAWKINs, FREDERICK ARTHUR Conn.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. a Washington, D. C. 

